So I’ve been dying to get bees for a few years. Just like having backyard chickens, beekeeping feels so natural and calming. There is something so calming to my soul watching Gods creatures peacefully going about their business, part of a much greater plan in the circle of life. And the process of collecting honey looks like so much fun!
I finally bit the bullet and ordered a colony of bees. I purchased the hive and we spent several hours assembling it. Miss T and I wanted to be able to say we put the whole hive together but it was a little more complicated at the end than expected. And in normal fashion around my house, the hive was completed after the bees arrived. My sweetheart was amazing and drove the hour and a half each way to pick up the bees, early on Mother’s Day morning.
After church, we got the hive set up and bee suits on. It was so amazing dumping 3 pounds of bees into the hive! My friend referred to it as ‘dumping out a can of mushroom soup’ lol.
That was 3 days ago and everything appeared to be going well. The hive was still standing; bees were coming and going; sugar water was being consumed.
Until…
I came outside this morning to this Apparently a bear or skunk or possibly a raccoon found the sugar water and hive. I was so devastated. And terrified the queen had left and we would already have lost the entire colony.
Teagan and I carefully cleaned up all the pieces and parts to the best of our ability. Many pieces are far from perfect. When we picked up the very last frame, we found the queen! This means all hope is not lost yet and the bees might just decide to stay!
Now we’re off to get some ratchet straps and an electric fence! Wish me luck! And if you have bees, I’d love to hear about your experience!
